Undefeated Silent Rule skips Monmouth, will race in Ohio

Silent Rule, America’s winningest undefeated horse currently in training, will be kept in state-bred company in Ohio this summer rather than starting this weekend at Monmouth Park.

“We opted for the two Ohio stakes Aug. 14 and Sept. 4,” trainer Jay Bernardini said in a text message Wednesday to Horse Racing Nation. “The thinking was all three races were a bit of a push.”

Silent Rule’s rise from uncertain to undefeated.

Bernardini stressed the 9-for-9 filly is doing well.

“So far, so good,” he said. “A little extra time between these races, especially in this heat, will help. Fingers crossed anyway.”

Owned by John and Linda Hoctel of Florida, the 4-year-old daughter of Street Boss had been nominated but was not entered for Sunday’s black-type, $100,000 Regret Stakes for fillies and mares at Monmouth. It would have been her first time racing against interstate competition in a stakes.

“We’re trying to remain grounded with her while hoping for both intermediate and long-term success,” Bernardini said.

Instead of going to the Jersey Shore, Silent Rule will line up in two races that are part of the Ohio Thoroughbred Race Fund stakes schedule at Thistledown. Bernardini said he has not decided yet which of two $100,000 Best of Ohio options he will choose Aug. 14. One is the Honey Jay against males going Silent Rule’s pet distance of six furlongs. The other is the Pay the Man, a 1 1/8-mile race for fillies and mares.

“Likely the sprint vs. the boys,” Bernardini said. “We may enter both and let it play out.”

More certain is the Sept. 4 running of the $75,000 Michael G. Mackey Memorial Angenora Stakes for fillies and mares going six furlongs at Thistledown.

Bernardini also said he considered sending Silent Rule into Friday’s $75,000 Vivacious Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares at Belterra Park. It would have been the filly’s first try off the dirt.

“We also elected to skip (that),” Bernardini said.

Rarely seen on the work tab, Silent Rule breezed July 4 at Mountaineer, Bernardini’s home base. She was clocked at 47.2 seconds, the fastest of five half-mile drills that morning.

Facing an uncertain future before the Hoctels sent her to Bernardini, Silent Rule began her racing career last August at Thistledown and has earned $295,456 in her nine victories, all in Ohio. She has raced eight times at six furlongs and once in a two-turn route.